Late Happy Thanksgiving

TM and I wish all of you a belated Happy Thanksgiving. We are blessed in so many ways and have always acknowledged such. This year we feel even more blessed as TM is getting healthier every day since his heart attack and stents.

As I read others' blogs, the recurring theme is one of love and appreciation for the many blessings - family, friends, love, and having 'enough' in life. I love the following poem:

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough “Hello’s” to get you through the final “Good-bye.”
Author Unknown

 

TM and I wish all of you 'enough' in your lives!

 

Remember to scatter kindness...



Time to rethink 2015?

Last Wednesday was a normal workday, and I was within 12 miles of home when my cell phone rang around 4:30. It was TM and his first words to me were, "Where are you?"...making my heart go cold. I immediately knew something was wrong. He told me he was not feeling well and thought he needed to go to the emergency room. I told him I'd be there in less than 10 minutes.

TM has a cold and had a hard coughing spell around 3:00, then was dizzy, short of breath, and felt a pressure type pain in his chest. [Yes, he received a lecture about not calling 911 right then!]. Long story short, TM had experienced a light heart attack. At the hospital, he had two stents put in due to 99% blockages. He also has a 50% blockage that did not require a stent. The two blockages were so bad and his arteries so twisted that the cardiac interventionist almost did not get the stents in. That would have meant emergency open-heart surgery for two by-passes. We do feel so very blessed we made it to the hospital and that TM was able to have stents instead of open-heart surgery.

Were there warning signs? Yes, there were. Were they ignored...hmmm, I dearly love my husband, but yes, they were to a certain extent. TM gets regular check ups and his cholesterol level is fine. He has high blood pressure and is overweight [as I am]. We also are too sedentary [things will change in the eating and exercising department!].  Plus, I have noticed TM being short of breath more and more since July. I told him I was concerned about his heart and encouraged him to say so to his doctor in a visit two weeks ago. He did, but based on TM's low cholesterol level, his doctor asked TM why I thought something would be wrong with his heart... Okey dokey, then - doctors know best????!!!! Maybe because I live 24/7 with TM and could tell there was a drastic change in his breathing with the slightest exertion, and he was so tired all the time!!! Oh well, I choose to look at what did happen - not what 'could have'.

We choose to look at the positives of this and move on. As stated, changes in eating habits [mainly portion control] and exercise are in order. Another item we need to look at is our targeted 2015 retirement date. I am six years younger than TM and can not draw from my teacher's pension until after my 60th birthday in 2014. I was going to teach another school year [2014-2015] to have 20 years of teaching in. Why, I don't know anymore. Twenty years was just a self-appointed goal. TM just turned 64 and could retire if he so chooses.

I think it is definitely time to rethink our 2015 targeted collective retirement date. We are still digesting the last few days and focusing on TM's health right now. He is off work next week for some much needed rest and relaxation. Then we'll go from there. I just am not as secure in my thoughts about him working outside in another Illinois winter! He says he wouldn't 'feel right' not working when I still am! Hey, there would be housework, errand running, cooking, laundry, etc. to occupy his time - right??!! LOL - he helps with all that anyway. I am just thankful and blessed I have my husband sitting next to me as I type this!


Remember to scatter kindness!

Pig Trail and Ozone, AR Burger Barn

 

 

TM and I take a motorcycle trip each summer, but we didn't do so this summer - we opted to take "Jazzy" to FL for 3 weeks to visit family instead.

 

I was feeling a bit blue about not getting in as much riding as we like, so I found solace in 2011 photos. We rode down to Eureka Springs, AR and enjoyed riding The Pig Trail. Up and down, twists and turns... I am always in the lead so we take it at my speed! The only hairpin turn on the Trail and we met a semi. I saw it coming and gave him plenty of room, but he still went off the edge of the road and scraped his trailer. Apparently he didn't see us until we met - his eyes looked like saucers! The locals say The Pig Trail is the Arkansas version of 'Tail of the Dragon'. I'll take their word for that! That ride is on TM's bucket list but not mine. Something tells me I'll be caving in on that someday. Look out Dragon, here we come...lol!

 

We had to scoot by The Burger Barn in Ozone, AR while in the area.We enjoyed  good burgers and a nice cold soda on a very hot day! It was just too cute to not enjoy! It's a beautiful ride with sweeping,  lazy S's and gentle 'baby' mountains to get to The Burger Barn. Top that with the smells of a pine forest and riding under a sunny sky and I am in my nirvana state!

 

  TM and I also took in some of Eureka's sights and tourista places. Downtown reminds me of some of Colorado's mining turned tourist towns... quaint and 'yesteryear'. I absolutely love riding into new towns and checking out the area and meeting locals.

 

Remember to 'scatter kindness'!

 



Oh my aching bones...

TM and I took advantage of some gorgeous weather and did yard work all day. Boy oh boy, do my bones and under used muscles have an attitude tonight! Is it me or does this yard work get tougher each year? Hey, whoever said you're only as old as you feel? I'm feeling it tonight...

Gotta' love this photo!!!!!!    ;>)

 

TM is watching the Cardinals game, and he is not liking what he is seeing. The Giants are up 5 - 0 bottom of the third. I could care myself but want him to be happy. So, I will post a photo of our son and grandson at Busch stadium with Fred Bird. It was Lil' E's first ballgame, and they came all the way from Gainesville, FL to attend! It was in August and they had a blast. Lil' E's expression is priceless, don't you think?

 

 

 

It saddens me to read there was another mass shooting today. What is wrong with people? Life can be tough for any of us; just learn some coping skills, take a time out, and move on. Relationships end for a variety of reasons, and it always takes two to make it or break it. I feel for the innocent bystanders more than anyone else.

 

Many of you have begun the journey south and are having a ball already! Mike and Pat of http://mikepatstravels.blogspot.com/ have been enjoying a stay in northern FL with friends and had a great airboat ride this A.M. Their photos made it seem as if I were right on the boat, too. They are taking off for their winter home in AZ.

 

Al and Kelly of http://thebayfieldbunch.com/ are both getting over colds and are ready to head for their winter home in AZ also. Safe travels to all!

 

My retired siblings and cousins leave IL after Christmas and winter in Rockport, TX. TM and I can't imagine staying in one spot all winter when we retire, but who knows! We will definitely spend our first winter close to our grandchildren in FL. However, we'll want to look around areas we've not stayed in yet. One son is in Gainesville and the other is in Sarasota. We'll not be staying in Sarasota... love the beach but not the crowds, ridiculous prices, or the 'plastics' - that's what I call all those phony, uptight people that one runs into once in a while...LOL!. We love the rural areas around Gainesville, and will stay in that area I'm sure!  Our second year will be spent in the Southwest - AZ and NM. As you all say, plans are made in Jello... or something like that!

 

Better wrap this one up...

Everyone take care and... scatter kindness!

 







Raining cats and dogs...not



Hey, I can't believe I remembered my password so I could get on here and pretend to have something to blog about! One thing to chat about is we are FINALLY getting a few sprinkles today. It's not quite raining cats and dogs, but we are happy to get anything at this point!

Summer has flown by, as usual. TM and I took "Jazzy" to Florida for 3 weeks in June. We stayed at Williston Crossings RV Resort  http://www.willistoncrossingrv.com/ so we could be close to Gainesville as our oldest son and family live there. We loved the resort and have it on our 'visit again' list! I have taken several professional development days this summer as I will take on a new role when school starts. Also, I have crossed from west-central IL to east-central IL several times to visit with my mother and family. Mom is 87 and time with her is precious to us all.

On our way back from FL our truck broke down just north of Hopkinsville, KY on The Pennyrile Parkway {might I add those 18 wheelers really can "rock" a fiver and truck like Credence Clearwater Revival rocked back in my day, heehee}. We waited 5 hours for a tow for both the truck and the 5th wheel - no one wanted to tow "Jazzy" -  and we weren't leaving her sitting there. TM finally nursed the truck 3 or 4 miles to get off The Pennyrile, and we waited another 3 hours before we were towed. Our truck went one direction, we spent the night in the driveway of the tow operator's home in "Jazzy", and my brother drove down the next morning from Horseshoe Lakes Campground in St. Bernice, IN to pull "Jazzy" there for us. He and my SIL summer there, and it's only around 25 miles from my hometown in east-central IL. So, we wound up with our truck in KY, "Jazzy" in IN, and rented a car in Terre Haute, IN to get us home {tri-states area of IL, MO, and IA about 30 miles from the Mighty Mississippi}. Keystone Cops couldn't have done it better. However, it all ended well a few thousand dollars later.... ahemmmmmm...

Hope your summer has been a good one. I'm back to school Monday morning. I am looking forward to it but counting down to 2015 even more than ever!





Take care and scatter kindness!

First ride of the year!

TM and I finally took off on our bikes last Saturday. I had suggested just going for breakfast and a short ride. However, the weather was gorgeous and I was really enjoying being out and about - so I just kept on 'scooting' down our back roads with TM following me on his bike. We stopped at a favorite eatery along the Illinois River [which we rode a ferry across the river to reach the restaurant], and several hours later we pulled back into the garage. What a day!

School is out but I have several professional development days throughout the summer. Tomorrow is the first one. I'll be trained in 'positive restraint' of aggressive students. Really? Things have definitely changed since I began teaching. The brochure said to wear comfy clothes as the training will be quite physical. I'll fill you in if I make it through the day!!!!!!!!

Take care, on Memorial Day remember all who have gone before us, and scatter kindness!

TM is off to work & I AM NOT!!!!!

Oh, I like my Spring Break! TM was off to work this morning while I get one more day off. So, I took photos of him as he 'saddled up' in his leathers. It is a brisk 45 degrees but will warm up to 65 degrees, hopefully, for his ride home this afternoon.

TM putting on his leathers

He's my tall 'drink of water' - so cute with his lunch tote!

Saddled up & ready to ride!

After TM left, I poured another cup of coffee and Goggled 'pallet gardening'. I am lining up yet another honey do for TM. I think it's a great way to recycle plus utilize space. We have plenty of space, but I don't want to tear up our lawn for  garden. I have 'container' gardened the past few summers and it works for us. However, TM can get pallets from work - so we're going to give it a try.

Doesn't this look cool?

It is time to put an end to this Monday AM blog and get some laundry going. Enjoy the week and remember to scatter kindnesss!